Chester County · PA · Estates & Conservation Properties division
Forestry mulching and land clearing in Easttown, PA
In Easttown, clearing trees for any purpose may not remove more than 25 percent of any tree mass, hedgerow or freestanding trees without Board of Supervisors approval.
Yes. Huntly Land Co. works in Easttown, PA. In Easttown, clearing trees for any purpose may not remove more than 25 percent of any tree mass, hedgerow or freestanding trees without Board of Supervisors approval, and on lots under two acres, each tree 6 to 36 inches DBH removed past the 25 percent allowance is replaced with a shade tree. Every job starts with a private site walk.
What the Easttown code says
Easttown covers about 8.2 square miles of land (US Census), roughly 13 miles from our Chadds Ford base. These are the town rules that most often shape a clearing, mulching or grading scope here, quoted from the code itself.
- 1.
25 percent of any tree mass
Section 274-29 of the Chapter 274 Natural Resources Protection, Article VIII Woodlands and Wooded Lots reads: “Clearing of trees for any purpose shall not result in the removal of more than 25% of any existing tree mass, hedgerow or individual freestanding trees, without approval from the Board of Supervisors.”
- 2.
Replacement on lots under two acres
Section 274-31 of the Chapter 274 Natural Resources Protection, Article IX Tree Replacement reads: “For properties that are less than two acres in area, replacement plantings shall be provided at a ratio of: (1) One shade tree for each tree six inches up to 36 inches dbh removed beyond the permitted twenty-five-percent disturbance allowance.”
- 3.
Replacement on two acres or more
Section 274-31 of the Chapter 274 Natural Resources Protection, Article IX Tree Replacement reads: “For properties two acres in area or greater, replacement plantings shall be provided at a ratio of: (1) One shade tree for each 1,000 square feet of woodland removed beyond the permitted twenty-five-percent disturbance allowance.”
- 4.
Riparian buffers near minor projects
Section 274-7 of the Chapter 274 Natural Resources Protection, Article II Conservation Plan Requirements reads: “If a riparian buffer zone lies within 50 feet of the proposed land disturbance, it shall be protected and planted in accordance with Article V; however, a riparian buffer zone management plan shall not be required.”
- 5.
Timber harvesting plan
Section 274-26 of the Chapter 274 Natural Resources Protection, Article VII Forestry reads: “Timber harvesting, when permitted, shall be in compliance with a timber harvesting plan.”
Offices for a Easttown site
| Question | Office |
|---|---|
| Sediment and stormwater / erosion review | Chester County Conservation District (Chapter 102 erosion and sediment control, NPDES) |
| Township or borough office | Easttown Township office |
| State erosion and sediment rules | 25 Pa. Code Chapter 102 (DEP) |
Easttown questions, answered
Does Easttown regulate timber harvesting or tree removal?
Clearing trees for any purpose may not remove more than 25 percent of any tree mass, hedgerow or freestanding trees without Board of Supervisors approval (Section 274-29).
Does Easttown protect individual trees?
On lots under two acres, each tree 6 to 36 inches DBH removed past the 25 percent allowance is replaced with a shade tree (Section 274-31).
Cost, permits and the ground
Code summaries are general guidance, not legal advice; Huntly confirms the rules that apply to each parcel before work.
What shapes the cost of land clearing in Easttown, PA?
Density and stem size, ground and terrain, access and staging, finish standard, resource plan, stewardship and schedule. Haul-off of non-organic debris, stump grinding below grade, permits and licensed applications are quoted as separate visible lines. Every job is priced in writing after a private site walk, and the walk carries no charge inside the service region.
Do I need a permit for land clearing in Easttown, PA?
Often. Pennsylvania requires a written erosion and sediment control plan for earth disturbance of 5,000 square feet or more (25 Pa. Code § 102.4), and the Chester County Conservation District reviews plans and NPDES coverage for larger disturbances. The Easttown rules on this page come on top of that. Whether a mulching-only scope counts as earth disturbance is a question for the township and the district, and we confirm it for each parcel before work.
Is forestry mulching better than bulldozing?
For most brush and small-tree work, yes. Mulching leaves roots in the ground and a chip layer on the surface, so slopes stay put, stream-adjacent ground stays stable, and there are no burn piles or haul-off loads. A buildable surface, root-ball removal, grading or drainage work may call for a broader clearing or excavation plan.
More about Easttown Township, Chester County, PA
Regulatory notes are general guidance; Huntly confirms the rules that apply to each site before work.
Who approves land clearing or earth disturbance in Easttown Township?
The Chester County Conservation District reviews erosion and sediment plans under delegated authority. Its FAQ says disturbance over 5,000 square feet needs a written plan, and one acre or more needs a plan the District reviews, plus an NPDES permit. Easttown Township has its own permits page. Huntly confirms the rule that applies to each site before work.
Can I burn brush piles in Easttown Township?
Not for brush. Easttown Township's Chapter 377 bars open burning of yard waste, leaves and construction wood at all times. Exceptions include recreational fires and approved clearing waste, but they need a township permit, a 50-foot setback from buildings, burning only between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., and no burning on red flag days. Huntly's mulch-in-place method needs no burn permit. Huntly confirms the rule that applies to each site before work.
What grows wild and takes over land around Easttown Township?
Typical for Chester County: multiflora rose, autumn olive, bush honeysuckle, Oriental bittersweet and Japanese stiltgrass. They fill fence lines, old pastures and woodland edges fast. Huntly's forestry mulcher clears the thickets, and the stumps and regrowth plan is quoted in writing after the site walk.
Is there cost-share money for clearing invasives in Easttown Township?
There can be. USDA NRCS EQIP, run through the Chester County USDA service center, cost-shares brush management by mechanical means for large shrubs (practice 314); the per-acre rate is set each year in the Pennsylvania payment schedule, so ask the district conservationist for the current figure. The Chester County Conservation District may also run programs. Eligibility and enrollment are set by those agencies, and Huntly does not file the application for you. Huntly confirms the rule that applies to each site before work.
Does Huntly serve Easttown Township, and what does a site walk cost?
Yes. Easttown Township sits inside Huntly's Brandywine Valley service region, based in Chadds Ford. The site walk is free. After the walk, every job gets a fixed price in writing, with mobilization shown on the estimate if the haul is long. Call (484) 486-7272 or email hello@huntlyland.com. Hours are Mon to Sat 8 to 4.
Do I need a permit or special timing to cut trees in Easttown Township?
As general guidance for Pennsylvania, tree cutting is commonly timed Oct 1 to Mar 31 to avoid roosting bats. Pennsylvania Chapter 102 sets a written erosion plan at 5,000 square feet of disturbance and an NPDES permit at one acre. Mulching often disturbs less soil than grading does. Huntly confirms the rule that applies to each site before work.
Does Huntly need to be registered to work in Easttown Township?
Pennsylvania requires contractors doing home improvement work for owners to register with the Attorney General's office. Huntly Land Co. is operated by Huntly Land Co. LLC. Ask for the registration number and proof of insurance before signing any land clearing contract, in Easttown Township or anywhere else. Huntly confirms the rule that applies to each site before work.
Who do I call in Easttown Township after a storm knocks down trees?
Call Huntly's 24/7 storm line at (484) 486-7272 for downed trees blocking lanes, fields and fence lines. We clear with a grapple and low-ground-pressure tracks. If a tree is on a house or on power lines, call a tree service or the utility first; we handle the cleanup after.
Official site: easttown.org
Sources: chesco.org (ErosionStormwater) · chesco.org (Faq) · easttown.org · ecode360.com (15302781) · dep.pa.gov (default) · nrcs-prod.azureedge.us (PA Bulletin 440 26 06 PA Published Cost List and Payment caps for FY 26) · attorneygeneral.gov (home improvement contractor registration)
Where these facts come from
Sources: Easttown Township Code, Chapter 274 Natural Resources Protection, Article VIII Woodlands and Wooded Lots, Section 274-29 · Easttown Township Code, Chapter 274 Natural Resources Protection, Article IX Tree Replacement, Section 274-31 · Easttown Township Code, Chapter 274 Natural Resources Protection, Article II Conservation Plan Requirements, Section 274-7 · Easttown Township Code, Chapter 274 Natural Resources Protection, Article VII Forestry, Section 274-26 · 25 Pa. Code § 102.4, erosion and sediment control requirements
Last checked: October 2026.
Permits and rules
Clearing in Easttown can need a sediment and stormwater plan or a local approval. Start here:
Send us the details.
hello@huntlyland.comSend the town, rough acreage and two or three photographs. We reply by email with site-walk times, and a written scope follows the walk.
Office hours Monday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. On call 24/7 for storm and emergency cleanup. If anyone is in danger, call 911 first.